Hydrant



(No Model.)

' J. A.'GREGG.

HYDRANT.

No. 484,197. Patente Oct. '11, 1892.

- NTE TATES:

. JOHN A. GREGG, on WEST BAY CITY, MICHIGAN.

HYDRANT.

SEEGIFIAION forming part of Letters Patent No. 484,197, dated October 111892.

Application filed March 14, 1892.

T all,whom z't may concern- Be it known that I, JOHN A. GREGG, a citizenof the United States, residing at West Bay City, in the county of Bayand State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Hydrants, of which the following is a specification, reference beinghad therein to the accompanying drawings.

' This invention relates to improvements in hydrants; and it consiste inthe combination, with the vertical hydrant-column, of an outer casing orjacket for inclosing the lower portion of the colnmn, and with the upperend of the jacket fitted to thecolumn and with its sides diverging in aconical form for inclosing an annular chamber between the column andthejacket, and With the lower end of the chamber open to receve the gasesfrom the earth below; and the invention also consists in theconstruction, arrangement, and combination of the parts, together withthe operation of the saine, as I shall hereinafter explain in detail,and which will also be especially set forth in the claims.

The objects of the invention are to provide means for preserving thelower portion of a hydrant-column and the valve contained therein fromthe action of cold and frost, whereby the valve is rendered at alltirnes free and easily operated, and the connections and joints arepreserved against leakage and breakage.

Another object is to provide a jacket for the lower portion of a hydrantto protect the column and the valve from the action of frost and at thesame time to allow the earth inclosing the lower portion of the jacketto heave and expand by the action of frost without lifting the column.

' Another object is to provide a jacket for Serial No. 424,828. (Nomodal.)

Figure 1 represents my invention in vertical section as attached to ahydrant-column. Fig. 2 is aviewof the same in elevation. Fig. 3 is ahorizontal section et Fig. 1, taken atac. Fig. 4 is a transverse sectionof the lower end ofthe hydrant-colnmn, shown detached. Fig. 5 is a planview of one of the cap-sections detached.

1 represents a hydrant-column of any desired form and construction, and2 is a branch from the water-main connected to the lower end of thecolumn by radial lugs 3 on the base of the column and a radial flange 4on the upwardly-turned portion 5 of the pipe 2,the lugs 3 being eachprovided With a slot l3, while,the fiange 4 is provided with bolts 6,tapped into the fiange, so that when the lugs 3 are placed upon theflange 4 the column can be turned to pass the slots 13 over the boltsbelow their head portions, and the bolts are then tightened to draw theparts together in the nsnal manner, and this allows the bolts to beloosened and the column to be turned until the bolts are free from theslots, and the colnmn may then be removed for repairs or replacement, asWill be more fully explained presently.

7 are a series of lugs extending from the outer edge of the flange 4,with a suitable space between, and on the outer portion of these lugsrests the base of a jacket 8, which has a conicalform and surrounds thelower portion of the hydrant-column, its upper end being of a dimensionto provide an annular space 14 between the jacket and the column j ustabove the surface of the earth, in which the lower part of the colnmn isembedded, while the base of the jacket is of such a dimension as toprovide an annular space or chamber 9 between the column and the jacket,and also to leave openings 10 from the earth below to the chamber 9between the lugs.

20 is a cap or cover for closing the upper end opening of the chamber 9,and this cover 20 is composed 01: two halves or sections 15, as shown inFig. 5, each having an inner recess 16 for inclosing one-half of thecolmn, and is provided on its periphery with a downwardly-extendingfiange 17, fitted to pass tightly over the upper end of the jacket, andis also provided on its end portions With radiallyprojecting ear-pieces18, which When the two sections are in position to cover the upper endof the jacket the parts are firmly clamped together by bolts 1 9, passedthrongh the ear-pieccs.

The lower edge of the jacket is provided with aradially-extendingflangell, which rests upon the lngs 7, and bolts 12are passed through the fiange and the lugs for holding the jacket 1nplace. When the jacket is chus firmly fixed in place and secured to thelugs 7, the cap-sections are then placed in position and secured, and.the earth is then filled in around the jacket nearly to its upper endportion, and should it beoome necessary to repair the hydrant thecap-sections are loosened and removed, and then a wrench fitted to theheads of thebolts 6 is passed downward through the opening 14 and thechamber 9 and engaged with the bolt-heads, Which being loosened allowsthe hydrant-colnmn to be turned t0 d1sengage the bolts from the slot 13,and the column maythen be lifted out and again replaced and the partsadjusted withont digg1ng or otherwise disturbing the earth which1ncloses the jacket. The branch pipe 2 and the lower portion of thehydrant-colnmn be 1ng placed in the earth below the action of frost andthe lower portion of the jacket be- 1ng also below the action of frostand within the influence of the warmth derived from the ear th below thefrost-line, the chamber 9, Wh1ch is open below and with a freecommunication with the heat radiating from the warmer strata of earthbelow, brings the air contained in the chamber 9, by means of the usnalcirculation on account of the greater,

area below and the limited area of air-space at the top to a temperatureabove the freezlng-point, and as this temperature surrounds the lowerportion of the hydrant-column which contains the valve the colnmn iskeptfree from frost and is always ready for being quickly opened Whenrequired for fire or other purposes, and the jacket being arranged forinclosing a chamber of greater area at the bottom than at the top bringsthe outside of the jacket to the form of a conc, or so it has an upwardtaper, and this form When the surface of the earth freezes around theupper portion of the jacket allows the earth to move upwardly byexpansion Withont adhering to the periphery of the jacket, so that thehydrant-column romains solidly in position, notwithstanding the 11 pheaval of the earth arou nd and in proximity thereto, and thus thehability ot straining the joints of the colnmn and branch pipe isobviated, so that leakage and the expense of repairs is prevented. ItWill also be noticed that by having the jacket separated from andoutside of the hydrant and arranged in the form of a cone, so that thebottom of the jacket is located at a considerable distance from the baseof the hydrant-column, all water dripping or leaking from the hoseconnections is condncted away from contact with the hydrant-column, sothat When the earth saturated therebyfreezes the jacket the chamberbetween the jacket and the column prevents the freezing froxn efiectingthe column and provides a means of preserving the hydrant in a conditionready for use at all times.

IIaving described n1y invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combinaton, with a vertical hydrant-column provided on its lower-portion with radially-extending lugs, of a jacket of oonical formaround the lowerportion of the column, and with its base resting nponand bolted to said luge, and with its upper end provided with a coverfitted aronnd the column above the earth-line, and wtha conical annnlarchamber between the column and the jacket and having openings betweenthe lugs to the base of the chamber, for the purpose set forth,substantially as described.

2. In a hydrant, the combination of the branch pipe 2, having anupwardly-turned portion 5, provided with radially-extending flange 4,and with lugs 7, projecting from the flange, and with the bolts 6,tapped into and projecting above the fiange, with the hydrant-column 1,with its lowerend restingon said flange 4 and provided with lngs 3,having slots 13, passed over the bolts 6 beneath their head portions,and a jacket 8 around the column and with its lower open end secured tosaid lugs 7 and havingits upper end covered by a removable cap-piecefitted t0 encircle the body of the column, substantially as set l'orth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN A. GREGG.

Witnesses:

JAS. E. THOMAS, GEO. P. THOMAS.

